Board of Mayor & Commissioners - Regular Meeting

You can see how we now. All right, it's 5:30. Very close. Everybody ready? Yeah. Yep. All right. This is city of Aendale Estates Board of Mayor Commissioners. Uh this is our regular meeting. It is February 11th, 2026. It's 5:30. like to call the meeting to order. Uh we have an agenda before us. Do I have a motion to adopt? So move second. Mike light a second. All in favor say I. I. Okay. Uh commissioner comments. We'll start down there with Commissioner Steman.

Uh good evening everyone. Thank you for coming. Uh I wasn't here at the last minute meeting, but I did listen to the minutes on the recording. Um and I want to congratulate the staff for getting the bronze certification. That's great. no staff. Um, but uh I I guess that's all at the moment. I had a vacation that I had planned before I planned to be up here. So that's where I was. Good. Nothing other than I on the way in I fantasized of what it would be like to have an outdoor meeting on a beautiful day like today.

Uh, Commissioner Chadson agreed. Maybe we can have a new city hall with a retractable roof. I'm sure that would be cheap. All right. Um, nothing really here. Um, so, um, yeah, thanks everybody for coming today. Um, that's all I have. I'll continue the trend. Not much from me. Uh, thank you all for coming tonight. That's it. Come on. Yeah. Is everybody enjoying the Olympics? Yes. Are you an Olympics fan? I am. No, it's great. Proud of the athletes. So, uh, I really have nothing. Um, thank you all for being here. Uh, Mr. Manager, you got any comments? I do. Okay. Yes. Street. Okay.

All right. Uh, first up is um, you know, we have a little special event coming up Friday, uh, Gallentine's Day, uh, Friday, February the 13th. Um, it it is, uh, uh, excuse Um 20 uh womenowned businesses in the city have come together to offer a day of workshops, exclusive menus, specialty drinks, and amazing deals all around town. Gather up the girls and uh look out for the heart-shaped balloons outside of storefronts to join the celebration. Uh this is a DDA sponsored event. Uh, in other good news, for the 42nd consecutive year, the city has been named a Tree City USA by the Harbor Day Foundation. Uh, the city also kept it alive, being named um, uh, the recipient of its 16th straight uh, growth award for its commitment to effective urban forest management. Um, there are 133 sweet cities in Georgia and more than 3,500 in the country. Aendell Estates is one of the three oldest tree cities in the state.

Cool.

Uh and to that I would like to welcome everybody to help celebrate Harbor Day with us on Friday, February the 20th at 2 p.m. Uh in collaboration with the Aendale Estates Garden Club, the city will plant an American hornbeam at Lener Gardens uh with an address of 2699 East College Avenue. Free saplings will be available as always. Uh February is a great time to plant a tree, so consider adding one to your yard uh to add to the city's wonderful tree canopy. I also want to congratulate our community for their participation uh in our centennial celebration survey. We had 156 respondents. So, thanks to everybody who uh responded and provided their thoughts. Uh we were given so many great ideas. Please stay tuned for more details on the organizing committee in the coming months.

All right. Thank you. It's a lot. Appreciate that. Okay. All good up here. All good. Okay. Um Okay. Item number four. We have before us the meeting minutes of the January 28th, 2026 regular meeting and the January 28th, 2026 uh work session. Do I have a motion to engross the minutes? So moved. is Louie Light a second. All in favor say I. I.

Okay. All right. First up, we have a Arbor Day proclamation which I will read. All right. Whereas in 19 in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for planting of trees. And whereas this day, now known as Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than 1 million trees in the state of Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the United States and the world. And whereas trees reduce erosion of our top soil, reduce heating and cooling cost, moderate temperature, clean air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource that provides wood that provide wood paper fuel and beauty. Now therefore, I, Jonathan Elmore, mayor of city, mayor of the city of Aenddale states, Georgia, do hereby proclaim February 20th, 2026 as the 153rd anniversary celebration of Arbor Day and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands on this 11th day of J February 2026. So, is someone here photo up?

All right, everybody got it. Bring it on in. Yes, you're smile and take

tree. Great. Thank you. Thank you. There you go. Thank you for being here. Thanks. Um I just had a couple things I wanted to say. Oh, sure. If it's okay. Absolutely. And you can use the Thank you.

kind of feel funny having my back to everybody, but I just did want to invite everybody. I know it's a city event, but um our we put in our budget each year money to buy a tree to be planted for the Arbor Day celebration. and we always try to commemorate it in the honor of or in memory of someone. So this year it will be in memory of Mrs. Sheila Biggs. She was a longtime resident of Aendale Estate. She raised her kids here. Um she w she passed away the end of January and she was 102 years old. Wow.

So we invite everybody to join us. It's going to be nice. Well, hopefully it won't be as cold as it has been in years past, but now you never know. But it's a wonderful thing and we love planting trees. So, well, thank you for everything you do.

Okay. All right. Uh, go to the item. Okay. First item to vote on item number six. Um, we have before us an ordinance of the city of Aendell Estates to establish a non-exclusive franchise agreement between the city of Aendell States, Georgia and Google Fiber Georgia LLC for the installation of network facilities in the city public right of way. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Uh, that was Louis. Do I have a second? Second. That was Graham. Um, Mr. manager, anything to add or

No, I I you know, if y'all are comfortable with all of the uh questions you had that were addressed at the first reading of this or at the previous meeting and I don't have any questions, comments appear I mean Commissioner Steman, that's quite well I try to be formal

anyway. Um yeah, I was just uh wondering about um you know having the w the cable underground. I think what we're allowing is for them to do to do it underground in parts and uh overground where there's already existing. Is that correct? Um the the distinction there is that um if they aren't able to use existing infrastructure then they would be able to bury lines underground. However, their intent is to use existing infrastructure and not have and that would be all above ground. Correct.

Anyone else up here? Just to to note, it's mostly using telephone poles that are already in existence. That's the infrastructure they're referring to. Yeah. Where basically um the same infrastructure that competitive services are using to provide. Right. I'll put it on the same line. Okay. Good. All good up here. Questions, comments out there? Any none of the line? Uh, all right. I would like to bring it back for a vote. All in favor say I. I. I.

Okay, that was five. All right. Um, item number seven. Um, we have before us a local comprehensive plan update assistance memorandum of agreement with uh the Atlanta Regional Commission for assistance with the local comprehensive uh local comprehensive plan. Um, do I have a motion to approve? So moved. That was Graham. Do I have a second? That was Laida. Anything to add? Not let y'all have any additional questions from the previous discussion?

No. I just would like to say thank you to the ARC um for assisting us with this plan. I mean we we have to do it but I would like to think that when we do these things we actually utilize them and uh as planning documents and to guide what we do. So just thanks to ARC. Um any other comments up here questions? Well, I just wanted to say that this is a very important process that we're going for and it's going to find how this city develops and and you know what we decide for our future and I just want us to be sure that we um include as many of the stakeholders in this city as we can and that um we have plenty of opportunity to uh for all to be included in the process and um I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of community outreach to to draw to get people to be participating in this process. That's so important.

Cool. Anyone else, right? I'm good. Any questions, comments out there? No online. Okay, I'd like to bring it back for a vote. All in favor say I. I. I.

That was five. Okay. Public comment. Bill Bill over 89 Berkeley Road. Uh I've been mostly enjoying driving through our community did this road diet uh very nearly complete and it struck me uh um while I was doing that recently that the road diet is better defining the limits are city u I guess I would say and um was wondering uh along those lines if any additional pro progress had been made in trying to get the entire city limits area under one U zip code because I know that come up you know a couple of years ago and some you know efforts we've made and I wondered if there was any progress on that or if a definite no come back.

Thank you. I don't know. Um I can speak to it. Uh that is not a decision that we we have any control over. Uh what we have asked um in the past is those properties that are have been annexed into the city with the 30003 zip code that are still listed as having a Decator Georgia zip code. if that were to be changed the name states and they the post office said they would take that under adisement uh but that it's difficult to change those things mail routing purposes.

Yeah, it's big metro area, lots of cities, it's you know. Anyway, uh any other questions, comments? Seeing none online. Any closing thoughts up here?

Yeah, I mean I I will just say I reached back to the the road diet and and how it defines the city. It really just is visually appealing. It's just such a improvement and and I appreciate everybody just bearing with us while we did all these much needed improvements. And I really feel like uh the traffic has is flowing better than it has before or than I certainly expected. So, but it it looks great. I just I'm so happy that we're we're we're here. So, are we going to have a ceremonial ribbon cutting across the road at some point? Yeah, that we're talking. Open it up. I want to

Yes, we we are in the process of planning a u cool celebration of the completion of good. Everybody deserves to celebrate that. I would hope so. Yeah. And I think it's once everything starts to leaf out and you know it's going to be pretty awesome and I think you'll really get the full impact of it. But anyway, thanks for everything. Thanks for your patience on that one. Um, okay. Seeing no other comment, I'd like to bring it back up here. Uh, do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move. That was Laida. Do I have a second? Second. That was Mike. All in favor say I. I.

All right. Everybody good? Yeah. Okay. We'll just move right along. Yes. I just wanted to remind you about the representing change the work. Yes. Okay. All right. This is the city of Aenddale states board of mayor commissioners work session. It is now 5:45. It is uh February 11th, 2026. Like to call the meeting to order. Uh before we begin, I would like to make a motion to remove item number four from the agenda at the request of the donor. So moved. All right. That was Louis. Do I have a second? Second. That's Lida. All in favor say I. I.

Okay. Uh so uh we have before us an agenda as amended. Uh do I have a motion to adopt to adopt? That was Mike. Do I have a second? Second. That was light. All say I. Okay. All right. So we only have one item for our discussion and that's about the public meeting process. Uh Mr. Manager, did you want to add anything? Is there anything tee up from you on the public meeting process? No. Okay. that um item has placed on the agenda tonight is its opportunity for you guys to further discuss the matter

u uh with the rationale that uh Commissioner Stemann was unable to participate in the previous work session discussion. Um okay and since we all talked about it before Commissioner

Ste. Okay. Um, this is an issue that's very important to me and um, I kind of prepared stuff. I'm going to try to talk that I may have to refer a lot, but I want to be very clear that I'm opposed to any further reduction in hearing from our citizens. I strongly believe that the business of this city must remain clear and understandable to the people that we serve. As the Georgia Constitution reminds us, all government of right originates with the people. Public officers are trustees and servants of the people and are at all times amanable to them. That is the foundation of why we hold public meetings in the first place. Georgia open meetings rec act is also clear that the affairs of government are attend intended to be conducted in the open so that the public may remain informed about the actions and deliberations of the local government. Sometimes that means residents need an opportunity not only to speak but to seek clarification so they can fully understand the issues before us. limiting public comment has been discussed a number of time over the past several years. Um during that time most meetings have been attended by a relatively small number of people. Um whether that low attend attendance is a function of consolidating meetings or moving a start time to 5:30, I do not believe the current concerns over public comment are justified. That said, I do believe we have an opportunity to improve how we engage with one another and with the public. Um, prior to 2021, we held two distinct monthly meetings, a dedicated work session for deliberation and discussion

of the issues and a separate regular work session for formal action. In 2021, the city combined those meetings and moved them from 6:30 to 5:30. While that change may have been intended to improve efficiency, I believe it has had unintended consequences. Combining the meetings has increasingly caused the work session to feel like just another formal meeting rather than a true work session where the board and staff can sit together around a table as Graham had mentioned in the meeting and ask questions and fully discuss the issues before decisions are made for the benefit of the public. um these compressed meetings in these residents lose the opportunity to fall follow the full decision-making process uh and understand how major decisions are being shaped. We're a small city and our meeting structure should support real access and understanding not just procedural compliance. I understand there was a suggestion to increase commissioner chats uh to give residents an opportunity to speak with commissioners. Uh while I believe informal conversations with residents are valuable, they cannot be a substitute for transparent discussion and accountability in our public meetings where all members are present and the public business is discussed. We should be guided by what serve best serves our residents, not the legal minimum. Work sessions and regular meetings serve different purposes. For that reason, I support returning to separate work sessions and regular meetings, and I support allowing public comment and clarification at appropriate points in both. Thank you.

Okay. Uh I'll chime in. Um, yeah, I I agree with a lot of what you said. You know, I I totally agree. We're servants to the people. Um, we're certainly not suggesting that we do anything that's not out in the open. Um, or take away opportunity to seek clarification. Um my you know I have a couple of elements in the meetings that I would like to see uh tightened up for better for for lack of a better word. You know, I think um having public comment uh at the beginning of the meeting uh following commissioner chat and excuse me it's following commissioner comments um would you know set the stage that we've come we're here we're listening. I'd like people to come to the podium u speak into the microphone because we have people at home that are listening. you're addressing the five of us um and not the not the members of the public. Um you know I uh I don't have an opinion right now on separating these two meetings. Um I'll have to give that some thought. Um but I do uh you know I think adding in some things like a mandatory break between our regular meeting and our work session will allow for conversation. It's not uh you know for me I've said this a couple of times I I cannot have a conversation from here with someone with with you guys out there. It's just number one it's just not an even playing field. Number two, it's uncomfortable. You know, and you know, I want to make

sure that everything I say from this seat is correct and accurate. Um, you know, if I'm having a conversation during the break and I make a mistake, I can correct myself, you know, a little better because I can ask somebody say, "Hey, is this right?" You know, so that, you know, that's how I feel about that. I like the idea of having commissioner chats at a more uh at a regular schedule and more frequency with a variety of the people from the city, not just commission, not just me and and another commissioner, but it could be me and city manager, myself and you know, whoever else. Um, and not just me, it could be the mayor and the city man. You guys get it. um because I think that's when real understanding and learning can come into play in a more relaxed environment. Uh I really believe that these meetings are for the business of the city and it's for us to be here and to do the business of the city and there's some formality with that and I feel like our public comments when they come in there needs to be some formality with those as well. Um, I am uh much more uh in tune with a resident that gives me a prepared, thoughtful comment than I am with a reactive comment. Uh, and I and I've said it before and I, you know, I think that's public comment is a time for any stakeholder in our community to come before us, say what they need to say. uh without being interrupted, without being cut off uh except by a time limit. And I do believe we need a time limit on public comment. And I'm not exactly sure what that time limit should be, but I think in the effort of equality and treating everyone equally, we need to have a time limit so

that you know you have a certain amount of time. I know you have a certain amount of time and you can get get what you need to say said at that point. Okay. Sorry, I'm being so longwinded. Uh, I'm going to move on to the work session. I would love to move it to the table. Um, I uh I think the work session is a time for the board and the city staff to sit at a table and get the work of the city done. And that means having uh a conversation. And I agree with you, Commissioner Steedman, having the work session as we have it now feels like just another regular meeting. Uh, and it's not so easy to have a discussion when I have to turn my chair and if I if I'm looking at you, I can't look at you. And if I'm looking, you know, if I'm trying trying to talk to city staff and get an answer from them all the way across the room is not not how I like to work. That's just me. Um, and I do think that uh, you know, the work session is for us. it is for us to work through our issues that are facing us and and you know I did suggest last week that we not have public comment during the work session. Um and so I had a a conversation with the resident following our meeting last week and it made me think uh and you know she had mentioned that you know we you know sometimes things come up in the work session wherein uh a thought or an idea or a question needs to be brought up and and a resident might feel I need to bring this up. So I thought about that uh talked over talked it over with uh city staff and you know my recommendation there is number one I agree that does happen. Uh you may hear something at our work session that speaks peaks your interest and you want to give a comment. So, you

know, I think in that situation, very similar to public comment during the regular meeting those questions, those concerns are for the five of us. And in in doing and and that is the audience for the question. And so I think we should have a comment card, a something where you can jot your question down, leave it with the city clerk, leave it in a box out front if we set something like that up and city staff has assured me they can distribute those uh the following morning and we can all read them. And then I I did have an email today that that said, "Well, we don't know. You know, we want you know what? Maybe it should be spoken so that the speaker knows that everybody heard them." And I thought about that and I said, "Well, you know, I can't I can't guarantee you guys are listening to me right now. I mean, I've gone on I've gone on a while here. Uh, so I can't uh I can't I can't say for certain everybody's going to read their email or read their uh work session comments from the night before, but I can tell you that I think we all do. We all read our emails. We all read what the city distributes to us. We all care deeply about the comments that you guys bring to us. Um, so, you know, I would just like to see us uh tighten it up a little bit. Um, you know, I know that we are small town and we, you know, I think I counted it up. If we have two items on the agenda, uh, we have, then we have one, two, three, four opportunities for someone to speak their, uh, opinions. Um, not to mention the fact that you all have our phone numbers, our addresses, our emails. Uh, you can probably text any of us too if you wanted to. Um, so I

really don't think we're limiting by by defining these changes. I don't think we're limiting public engagement and I don't think it's an inappropriate measure to take or codify in in our policy so that we all know, you know, we're all on the same page. I'm sorry that I talked so long. So I'm gonna stop now because I could probably keep going, but I'll stop dear. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. No, but thank you. No, I appreciate that. I mean, um, well, Lily, Mike,

um, okay, just reaching back to your comment, Lida, about when the meetings were split, were they were they bi-weekly, a bi-weekly? Um,

21, we had a work session, I believe it was on a Wednesday, and then a week and a half later on Monday. Uh so there was almost two weeks between the two meetings but there was a separate dedicated work session and this had been going on for decades. Um and then we had a a regular meeting and uh that was you know dealt with the business uh you know voting on things and reading you know proclamations and that sort of thing. And I feel like that when we had those dedicated work sessions sitting at the table around, you know, each other that we could get into more depth about what we, you know, what these issues are, how we each think about them so that the basically the public can see the sausage being made, you know, that they have a better understanding of, you know, how we're working through the process. And I think that's the way work session should be. And I don't think you can do that when you stack it with a regular meeting. Um I think that uh you know we've lost some of the um ability for that exchange in having you know it here and also not having it separate. I think we've you know put too much not tonight but sometimes you know there's just too much for one night between the work session and uh this the regular meeting. So that's why

so were there two were there two work sessions and two regulars? One work session and one regular meeting. Okay. So, okay. So,

so basically what happened was you did both on the two nights that were separate. So, I think maybe I don't know uh Jonathan could speak to this better, but I think the idea was to be able to move things along faster, but um I I I don't know that um that's always the best option. Um in the past, if we uh had a reason to move something along faster, we would call a special call meeting. um whether you know I mean I think it's flexible. I think one dedicated work session if you want to keep two meetings you know that's one option or if you want to do one of each but I do think the work session uh would would be far more beneficial to us and to the public to have it separate and at the table where we can work with the staff and each other and the and the residents can listen. And I think that allowing comments at the end of the work session when we are completely through I I don't see a problem with that. I think that's a positive thing. And um you know I also think that asking questions I know sometimes people feel like um well we don't have the answer and that's okay you know but a lot of times people just want clarification of something that was said when they ask a question and um you know if you can't answer them you know then I think that whoever can answer the question responds the next few days and copies the board. So, we have the benefits since we apparently didn't know, you know.

Do we did we have a lot of extra special called sessions when it was kind of split up like that? No, we just had really long meetings. Um, depending on the It just depended. You know, it's funny though because you mentioned limiting comment, but I mean, you're talking about two meetings versus four. I mean, we now have four meetings when we used to have two. So, in my mind, we have twice as much opportunity for people to make public comment. because we have four meetings instead of two. And I think also, you know, it's like we have twice a month for someone to come in and and then excuse me,

make a comment. Um, you know, versus once a month for a regular meeting or once a month for the work session. I mean, to me, I think it's opened things up. I think it has, and it wasn't really for speed. Um, it just there are occasions where we need to vote on something sooner. I mean, I'm fine with the format. I think it's great. I think it actually gives people more opportunity. I mean, there are two meetings stacked together, but they are technically four meetings versus two. Um, I'm fine with the format. I like it a lot. Um, I would consider changing the time, but you know, I'm not stuck on that one. Um, I really I was cons I think I was thinking about the time just because Mike was having some difficulty getting here sometimes, but I think his work situations changed. that's not a issue anymore. Um, I know that 5:30 is kind of good for staff, but it's really the meetings are for us. Um, I mean, to me, I don't think we're change I don't think we're limiting public comment at all. I mean, I think we're not limiting it one bit. It's just I think what we're doing is changing how we respond and and just saying, you know, you can say what you want. You can ask what you want. Our pro our comment's going to be thank you for your comment. it because when I say frequently one comment per person per item, it turns into three. And then the person that did respect that feels like, well, crap, she just asked three questions. Why can't I ask three questions, you know? And so I I back to uh Graham's point about equity and inequality, I guess, is the proper word, but I I just think it's more equal for everybody. Um but I don't see this as limiting public comment whatsoever. I don't think this has anything to do with transparency. Um that's you know and per open records open meetings which you mentioned I mean the purpose of this meeting and a work session is to allow

four elected five elected officials to get together in a quorum and have a meeting without violating state law and you know there has to be an agenda and announcement and all that but really the purpose is for you know a quorum of us to get together and talk about stuff and vote. uh public comment is part of that and I think we're just changing the way we engage and just trying to put some parameters because it does get abused from time to time. It's gotten better but it still gets abused and it puts a lot of stress on us. It creates a lot of tension on us because we feel like this obligation to answer you know and have the right answer. Um and it turns into a debate sometimes and I think it it it it stresses me out sometimes. I think it stresses everybody out. But, uh, you know, and that's not what the purpose is. It's not a debate. It's not a a question and answer. And sometimes it feels like an interrogation or some kind of gotcha thing. It's like, no, it shouldn't be any of that. I mean, we want to hear what people have to say, but I think it just changes sort of the the dynamic, if you will, to something that's less confrontational and more more transparent, more open. But um I'm I really like the changes obviously that are being proposed, but I really do like the format of stacking meetings two and two. Uh I think that's served us well a lot of times like tonight we don't have a you know a heavy duty agenda but there are times where we do

and if and if we stack that on top of what the agenda is two weeks later I mean we would end up meeting for a while but I I think it just I think it gives people more opportunity um personally but well I think um the way I saw it laid I mean um the way Graham kind of laid it out it seems like it does have a bit of a compromise for both it it adds that work session around the table

to have and then I like the idea of that break in between. So, and it gives the public the opportunity to speak informally with um with the commissioners and even the staff on what transpired during the regular meeting and then you know you also have the opportunity after the work session to to leave a comment. So, um I see three separate distinct public comment um areas. Um right. Or even four. Really four. Well, so um

I like I do like the you know the the every you know every other Wednesday. It's kind of regular. It's easier to remember I think. Uh and the the public's probably is kind of used to that schedule as it is right now. Uh, so I think that will, you know, people are used to that. I don't see any reason to change it. Um, I do like just moving the work session over there with a defined break. I think that will solve the kind of the We can do that now if we wanted to. That's not a big one, but

Yeah. And I I'll just speak up to uh kind of piggyback on what the mayor said. The the format of having our regular meeting and our work session, you know, it takes a minute even for me to wrap my head around the way that it works. And I was talking to someone today and said, "Oh, it's, you know, it's offset." You know, we do our regular meeting, which is our business before us right now. And then our work session starts and we're working on next week. And so, you kind of have to get in that mindset of that. And then, and so, you know, I personally like the way it's set up now. You know, I have two teenage daughters that are running me ragged sometimes. And so just you know you too like it's a lot and uh you know but I know they know hey dad's got a meeting 5:30 this Wednesday you know I'm out you know I will be here doing that as long as it takes. So um you know I kind of like having it consolidated and just you know and I just have to keep it straight in my mind of when we start our work session we're starting our prep for next week. Um, and then I have two weeks between these meetings to uh answer questions, get clarification for myself and learn after that. So I I'm I'm kind of in favor not kind of I am in favor of keeping our format as it is. I I could be amendable to changing the time slightly if that is something that the board wants to entertain. Um, and one last thing, I know Commissioner Steedman mentioned having a a spoken public comment at the end of the work session, and I'm advocating for a written public comment at the end of the work session. And I'll just speak for myself. For me, I'm going to uh get more out of and be able to answer a question better if it is written to me than I am if it's just spoken verbally. And that goes for, you

know, that that can be written on a slip of paper. It can be written in an email, uh, anything like that. But, but, uh, you know, especially at the end of a long work session. Obviously, tonight's not that heavy of a schedule, but the long end of a long work session and long meeting, you know, I am I'm not as uh sharp as I'm as I will be the next morning. So, that's my Can I respond to you two for a second, but I'm sorry. I No,

I'll be quick. Um my point about the work session is you know it is a different purpose and um it you know when you have a dedicated work session you have the time you know to go into things more we've got two different kinds of meetings mixed in the same night and these work sessions have begun to feel like just a regular meeting. we're sitting up here at the podium and that's not the only thing we Yeah, I think we're getting into pretty good discussions tonight, but I don't I know that we always do. Um, but uh I just feel like a dedicated work session gives us the opportunity to go into more depth discussing the issues and so I I think you know that to me is preferable. Um, and I you know I don't have a problem with structuring citizen comments as far as three minute limit. that seems reasonable and what most people do, but I feel like everybody who has a comment should be able to make that comment. I don't believe we should limit the number of people who comment in any way, shape, or form. Um,

I'm not suggesting we limit the number. Like I I think uh if we show up and we have 500 folks in the room and they all want to speak for their three minutes, then we'll sit here. I think the intent is just to to reduce the back and forth, right? Yeah. And I think you I think that we should be able to do that, you know, by saying thank you, you know, and and politely, you know, urge them, you know, urge them to

and and I agree with you about the work session and that I mean that's why I I really hope that we can come to a policy where we take a break after the regular meeting and move over there so it is a separate feeling meeting. keeping our format the same, but you know, we are going to leave these chairs and go sit. Yeah, I appreciate that. But I think having the break will just extend the time we're here, you know, and also the fact that you've got all these things on one night instead of this on one night and this on the other night. Well, it'll be twice as much on each one because Yeah. I mean, because

we're doing it all. So, what do you think, Louie? Okay. So, I rolled up my sleeves and I'm I'm going to talk a little bit, but it's not organized, so I might bounce around a little. So, we started with your thoughts prepared, you know, directed in that direction and then Graham directed his comments in that direction and little by little over time, we started doing this and looking at each other and having a conversation and oops, there's people out there. Um, I mean, this is the way it's supposed to work, right? I mean, it is in public and it is out to the members and the folks on the internet, but it's also just trying to communicate and hash through thoughts. Oops, I went too far away from the See, there's like so many different aspects of it. So, um, because we're that offset by what is it like half of me, right? really the work session is the beginning of next week's meeting. The business meeting that happens first is the end of last week's work session. So sort of getting through the business meeting to me makes sense to just get through it. Like the way it is two in the same day twice a month in my perspective makes sense. It it's it is uh reliable and it's two times that the staff is here. Um it it makes sense to me to keep it that way. So from 5:30 till whenever or 6:00 till whenever you know that's fine. Um so in terms of the work session like the way we were discussing now makes sense back and forth folks can be listening and forming opinions. Um, I don't see how it's possible to limit or reduce or eliminate public comment on the work session because, you know, things are going to come up.

People are making notes. People are writing down ideas and it's fair and reasonable to hear the things that came up in the in the community's mind during our discussions. Um so regarding responses to those ideas so there's different things there are statements um I am in favor I am against um there are questions questions about the specifics that we discussed and then there's questions about other things not related to the agenda items. So I was thinking about that and I did a tiny bit of research. So I I listened to two uh Dicab County meetings and two city of Decatur meetings and you know the college professors will say compare and contrast by seeing how others do it. It helps you understand yourself or at least how you do it. So something from Decatur that they have um they have public comment on the agenda items and that's before the uh they call them action items, agenda action items. So, um, so in the business meeting, if we have a, you know, Google Fiber contract that we're going to vote on, there's an opportunity for the public to comment on it before we discuss it. Um, any of those three things at one time, then we vote and it's done. So, and then later in the meeting, sorry, so it theirs is a long agenda and I don't have it all in my head. They have a different thing called petitions, requests, and petitions, which are, if

you don't mind, Bill, if I could use your example, asking the question about will there be an opportunity, will there be a time when the zip code is all inclusive? Um, it would be in the form of a statement. Um, I would like the city to consider um putting a priority on figuring on getting the zip code of all of the city limits to be the same. Um, and then the commissioners have an opportunity at the end of everything where we have our commissioner comments in the beginning, theirs is at the end. And if a commissioner wants to pick up on that comment, then amongst ourselves, we can say, "Hey, I think that's important, too, to get all of the city. Do we have a way to advocate with the postal service to do it?" Um, or if another comment was a a question like, "When will my road be paved?" Um, you know, even though it was supposed to be a statement, there's going to be questions. and a commissioner can pick that up and say, "Citty manager, we really do want to know when that particular can you report back next week on when that um that means you don't have to have the answer to the question. You the commissioners, we can receive those questions, kind of gauge its importance or see if it resonates and then bring it up and it can become an agenda item or whatever." Um, I thought that was interesting. So in other words, it's it's impossible. It's human nature to ask questions. Um but asking why is there mud on the road from the construction that that's I mean it's a veiled it could be made in the form of a statement and if there was rigor and and all of us that practice that rigor we could say I've observed dirt in the road from the construction and I'm concerned that it's not going to get cleaned up. We can receive it. it can turn into an action item for the

city manager to follow up on. So I, you know, we're sort of asking ourselves to be disciplined in a way and not respond to every question that's not germanine to the discussion. Um, we partially are asking the citizens to sort of um try to make them as comments rather than questions. But for those questions, what are the opportunities to ask them? And that's the final I'll I'll shut up in a minute. It's perfectly fair to wonder why is it why is there no turn lane to go on to you know Clarendon from from North Aendale like it's a fair question. I don't know is there a question slot? Is there an email that you can ask questions? You know, those are some of the things that I hear up here sometimes that are not part of the agenda, but they're fair questions. And I mean, people are going to ask questions. It's not a question any of us can answer. So, and it kind of waste of it's it's not a waste of time, but it's it's just not so that's where sort of a I don't know. it's fair for the community to come here so that when we're all done they have direct access to us or to city manager or someone and just ask those questions. I don't know that those questions have to be part of a recorded you know minuteed meeting.

Well, I mean obviously if they pertain to what we've discussed I think they they should be answered. Uh like I said a lot of times people just want clarification. I know that's been my questions a lot is I thought I heard it this way, you know, I just wanted to make sure that that's that's what was said and questions like that obviously I think should be answered. So I don't think you should do a blanket we're not answering questions. Um but there should be an expectation maybe by the people in the audience that if they're asking a question that's not on the agenda that they probably would not, you know, receive an answer that evening, but that there would be a followup. Um, and I, you know, I just, uh, I feel like they should be able to, you know, ask these things and comment on these things for the benefit of everybody. I mean, other people may be thinking what they're thinking and um, you know, may, oh, well, yeah, I'd like to know that, too. So, I just don't think there should be a blanket. We're not going to take questions. Um, but I understand not wanting to get into dialogue and debate. I don't think it should go that far. I think that um you know that uh you know answering questions uh is part of the process um you know uh when we are able that's just my thoughts.

Okay. Not that I'm ending it. Everybody get up here for a second. Mr. manager, what do you need from us for

Okay, so there is currently a um policy on the books that was adopted by the board in 2018. Um I believe spring of 2018 or around there. Um that would it it that dictates how public comment is currently handled. Um if there is any change to that procedure uh then a new policy would have to be adopted. In order to bring that policy to you guys, staff would need direction as to u what a majority of the board um would like to see in that policy so that we could prepare a draft and then present it to you guys for um adoption.

Have we received a copy of that policy? Um, no. But could we we can certainly provide the board with a copy of that the existing policy. Thank you. Sure. Um, okay. I mean, I don't see anything wrong with clarification and things like that. I think we just disagree on the venue for doing it or the avenue for doing it. Um, you know, I Yeah, one more thing I would like to say that the board can provide that direction to staff via email. Okay. Um, well,

you can continue the discussion via email. Of course, that would be discoverable by the public, but it is a uh now a allowable use um as a needs to continue to communicate about uh future policy decisions. Okay.

I think uh like the action item thing sounds good and I think having that public public comment at the end of the work session gives like I mean just anything that requires a a followup from us. I I just think and it can be just like a statement. I would like to, you know, a comment at the end of the work state session based on, you know, what they've seen or anything else that you say, I I would like the city to look into this and then and then and that's where we use like the the comment card. You can you could read it if you wanted to at the end, but it just gets into like some sort of record that we can I get that

have a follow-up that's that's um you know trackable and so we don't nothing falls through the cracks. My only sticking point with that is is I I would um like this is this has been one of our longer work session discussions and so I would I would love to see our public comment period at the beginning of our regular meeting be able to uh include anything and everything that any stakeholder wants to bring up because let's say um you know the Turn lane's a great example. Somebody not not happy with the turn lanes out front. Okay, no problem. Do they want to sit through this entire meeting to to bring up the turn lane at the you know we have a three-hour meeting. The only time I'm able to bring up that turn lane is at the end. I'd rather them be able to come say what they need to say, give it to us, and then they can they're welcome to stay till the end of the meeting if they like, but you know, then they can duck out. So, I I I get it. I like that the idea of only only having comment on action items, but I but my

No, no, I know in that period, but I'd rather have all the comment at the at the outset. Okay. Um, well, let me just Okay, can I ask a question?

Well, wait a minute. I like the format where we piggyback or leaprog or whatever you want to call it where we have two meetings a month, regular session, regular meeting first, work session thereafter. I like that format. I want to keep it. I like 5:30. Um, I like the idea of having public comment up front before we vote on things. Um, I like, you know, the idea of, yes, limiting public comment to three minutes per speaker. Uh, 30 minutes total for that one. Um, you know, that we will not be responding. Just we we're here to listen to your comment, but not not engage. Uh, I do like the idea of a break in between. Uh, whether it's five minutes or 10 minutes. Uh, I absolutely like the idea of going back down there and sitting down so we can actually see each other and talk. Um, and I like I'm fine with having public comment at the end of the work session. Uh, whether it's written or whether it's just stand up and say something, but again, no engagement necessarily. Um, you know, uh, as far as questions, I think that they we should have comment cards where people can write comments and or questions and then we, you know, agree on a time frame to respond to it. Um, people show up at the meeting, they should be able to ask questions. I just want to make sure that we answer them correctly. Um, you know, and that we're not answering a question. And then staff is like, "No, no, no, no. We're actually not doing it next Thursday. It's next Wednesday." And then you get into this, well, do you guys know what you're doing? Does the left hand know what the right hand's doing? I think it's better to to take a little time and answer those questions correctly. Um, and whether those are published or I'm I'm

fine with that, too. But that's the basic uh I'm good with. And um yeah, I I can live with that. I like um you know it's uh I I can live with that. I like the format. I'm fine with 5:30. Um I do up front. Um and in that public comment period, speakers can speak as long as they uh excuse me, speakers can speak on any topic that they wish, whether it's on our agenda or not.

Right. Um, I'm not in favor of limiting that time to 30 minutes. I don't think we should have a limit. I think if like you said, if residents come and want to speak, but 10 people have already lined up and all 10 of those take all three of their minutes, you know, I feel like if you come to this meeting and you have a comment to make, then you get your three minutes. Okay.

Um, so I'm I'm really not in favor of a time limit for that period. I am in favor of a time limit for each individual speaker and I'm okay with three minutes. I think uh you know I think I've gone over three minutes tonight but I think three minutes is okay. Um yeah and I think it's up to up to the five of us to hold each other accountable on not uh trying not to engage with that commenter. Uh I think things like thank you for your comment. See me at the break. send me an email. Those things are fine, but that's pretty much the three, you know, the thing is like and I, you know, I can live with public comment at the end of the work session on work session items.

Agree. As we do it now. Agreed. Um, but I would like to have comment cards, too, because sometimes, you know, you wouldn't know it from tonight, but I'm not a huge public speaker. Sometimes I just like to write things down and I think there's other people like me that might want to put it in the box and you know and it may not be something that needs a response tonight. They may just say hey here's a suggestion and put it in the box. So um so yeah with those little changes I could go on board with that. Okay.

So I feel like we're at the point where we need something on paper. So if it whether it's the 2018 version or someone just takes a a stab at a pretend agenda, you know, take this week's agenda and and and adop adapt it to the but now just talking it's hard to follow. It's probably hard for some folks to follow. Um just we I think we have to visually see it as a like what it might look like.

Okay, Mark. Uh yeah, I I like where this is going. Um I think that format is good. You've got multiple avenues for uh public comment. You also have an opportunity for for discussion back and forth during the break. Uh so it gives both kind of ways of speaking with commissioners and staff. And I like that it's it's giving it a structure. The only other thing I'd add is when we we're talking about time limits like when when we adopt this I would expect us to have those timers on and and really hold people and when your three minutes is up you know I know we don't use the gamble very often but when your three minutes up your three minutes is up you know and that's that and the same with uh uh with the break. We need to define the time of the break. And let's say, for example, if it's 10 minutes, then when 9 minutes rolls around, we're going to flash these lights and we're going to go sit at that table and we're going to get to work at 10 minutes.

Agreed. Yep. Just to keep everything, you know, as as formal and as as tight as possible, right? Yeah. Um Okay.

Um yeah, I do I do want it. um questions and comments at the end of work sessions. I'm fine if they're restricted to the work session. Um as far as the comment cards, you know, I wouldn't want those to replace the opportunity to speak, but they could be an addition if people feel like they need them. Um and uh you know, I would certainly um you know, uh interested in moving the work session. I mean, I think a separate night would be a good thing, but I don't think see see that happening. But, um, yes, certainly trying that and seeing if it does improve our ability to communicate about the issues, um, I think is a positive step forward. So, um, I do have a question about, um, if we have citizens comments at the beginning of the meeting, um, will we discontinue the comments on action items

on agenda items? on voting items. Yes, we will continue that. Right. So, any comment about anything we're going to vote on would be made up front. Yeah. So, there be which actually makes sense because, you know, I mean, the way we do it now, I think is is fine, but if you think about it, I make a motion, you make a second, we talk about it, then we ask for public comment. It's like, well, we've already made a motion. Well, and and I mean you can you can you know throw out a motion and not vote, but I mean I think

allowing folks to say, you know, okay, about this Google thing, let me tell you what I think before we even make the motion. Um I think that's to me that's more logical. Uh it's it's more um I agree. And and to be honest, that's how I've seen a lot of other places do it. And I think that's the reason why. Um, but um, yeah. How about this? So, Mr. Manager, do you think you've got enough to put together some kind of here's the game plan? Yes. Yes. And,

oh, you want me to recite it? I can do that. First thing is uh in addition to the terms proposed for the new draft policy, I will also attach for you the old policy 2018. So you all have that document. Yes. Then uh the new draft policy will include provisions for um p general public comment prior to action items. uh limited to three minutes per commenter but no total time limit. Okay. Uh then uh a break of 10 minutes.

Yep.

Uh in between the regular meeting and work session. Uh then the work session will commence at the table in in in a round form uh with a another public comment period to conclude at the end of the work session. Um and with the uh potential uh addition of comment cards so that if persons who do not wish to speak at the time at the conclusion of the work session can provide a written comment that y'all will address at a later time. Uh the other provision being that public comment during the work session be limited to items that appear on the work session agenda whereas comment on the regular meeting is for anything that the commenter wishes to speak about.

I think I got it. Can I ask one thing? Sorry. Sorry. Never mind. Um, I know. Uh, could and I, this is probably a question for us. How do you guys feel about asking folks to come to the podium as opposed to being having to raise their hand and be called on? I I think that I think from our perspective, from a um, you know, logistical perspective, that is a good move because you know, voice volume is desperate,

right? So if you know equity is the theme that they're trying to the the gift here then everybody doing the exact same thing is is preferred.

Yeah. I just want a little discretion. If someone's infirm if someone you know doesn't move well if whatever that you know they don't have to come up here. We're going to ask them to but it's a small room. We can usually hear folks or or hand them a mic if we need to or relay the message or whatever. But just a little bit of discretion on that one because some folks some folks maybe just I don't know would prefer to just sit there raise their hand. They don't want to approach podium. I mean I can understand that. It's like but uh anyway. Um okay. Yeah. You got it? Yeah. All right.

So I'm going to do exactly what I would be doing if I was sitting out there. So after hearing it I have a couple final thoughts. Okay. the 10-minute break, like is it going to be recorded? Is this going to continue going? Are the mics going to pick it up? You know what I mean? No, but I mean, well, we have to turn them off. I mean, but the point is a give people a break. B, if someone wants to approach you for a conversation, they're able to do that. But I don't think that needs to be broadcast. There may be 10 conversations going on or at least live, you know, or could be or, you know, so, but we will have mics at the table and Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. and Zoom will cover it. Right. Right. We'll have to adjust some of that.

Yeah. We can handle because we're not quite ready for that. I mean, frankly, I'd like to start meeting at the table. We can do that right now if we want to like clear out guys, you know. Um, but I think I never I didn't think about the the AV part of it. And um but I would like to do that next meeting. Okay. If we can. If we can. I got to run to the restroom. I'm see we need a break. Do the break. So the right

I mean I I I might be wrong but I think the real meet or the real discussion the real public comment should theoretically be based on the working meeting. the business meeting it's already it's you know mostly done unless something changes prior to that to the meeting. So um I don't like I I just I'm having trouble understanding everybody moves over there. The cameras have to point over there. Just the legit the the staff has to move out of the way. you know, it's just I don't know that part just I love the idea of it, but I'm just thinking practically, you know, all these papers have to, you know, whatever. That's the part I know it seems it seems odd, but I mean again I'm just

Well, I mean, for years we did, you know, meet down there and and I agree it did change somewhat the tenor of the conversation because, you know, now we're up here and it's like it's it seems a little odd, you know, it is better down there and I I don't I don't really think that was any kind of like major conscious decision. We just kind of started doing it sitting up here for the work session. I don't I can't remember if we I can't remember. I mean, it just seemed like we just started kind of hanging out up here for the whole thing and that's just kind of how we started doing it. But it was never that was not a policy decision. That was just sort of happened and I don't even remember how that happened as a process of combining the meetings

probably. But I think initially we did walk back down there even that we we we started up here and we ended down there. But I can't totally remember but um I'm fine with that. So, all right. Uh, I'm good. All good. Everybody good? Good as can be. Um, okay. Public comment. Uh, Kathy. Oh, thank you.

I'll be happy to follow f follow a comment card if necessary. And I apologize if this is off the wall. I am shocked that the issue of water hasn't come up at either of these meetings. I know that our city does not run our water department, right?

But is there ever a do we have a sense of can we get some explanations from the county about how, why, when this happens? Is there anything cuz just it seems to be very offthe-wall when it happens and when it happens it's like no water. I live on Majestic and I I don't know if it it seems to me that um that part of Lake Shore Majestic wind all back in there. Water has been our fate. You know, it's just the thing that So, I don't know if it needs to be addressed with the county and get some other thing. I know I I know you all have tried to deal with this because there were daily updates coming from the city, but they were more around encouraging us to please call the county, which we've done, but we don't seem to understand why this keeps happening.

Well, I I do want the manager to address that because that's a kind of a his territory, but I do want to say one thing. They were on it immediately. Yes. And they've been dinging them every day. Um, I may be wrong, but initially, I hope the answer's different, but initially the county wasn't sure what was the problem. They really didn't know. Is it the water tower? Is it a pump? Is it this? Is it a broken line? They weren't totally sure. I mean, it's a big system and they're doing a lot of work on it. It was a lot of different contractors, but I do know that Patrick and company got on top of them immediately. And so our response on your behalf was immediate and forceful.

Yes. Um and I mean professional, but it's like guys, wild heaven can't make beer because they ain't got no water. You know, it's kind of an essential ingredient. Um so I just want to commend staff because they were on it. And and and you know, you can yell at people all they want, but if they don't know what the problem is, that's not really going to help. But Mr. manager, could you please address some of that?

Yes. Um Um and pardon, I I have to go after that. Um we So, couple things. one, um there have been intermittent pressure issues uh since the end of 2025 uh that seemingly have no explanation attached to. Um we had been made aware of those and had informed the county that several pockets of the city had been experiencing these pressure fluctuations. We then had a commercial property owner uh who was experiencing these issues more than their than surrounding properties. um conduct some uh diligence of their own to find out whether or not these pressure issues were a result of plumbing issues on their end or if they could determine it was a result of issues on the utilities end or the cap county water that that was essentially 12 days that was 12 days ago when we received this email from that commercial property owner discussing the diligence they undertook to try and find out what was going on. What they determined from their diligence was that this seemed to be a problem on the utilities end and not private. So, we informed the county that this property owner had gone through these links and determined that, okay, we've got we've got a situation that is that is coming from you guys and we need to figure out the solution.

And um you know, they kind of threw their hands up to be quite honest. Um and then the following Sunday evening, uh a a water line broke on Columbia Drive and that exacerbated the previously existing pressure condition to the point where most of our commercial properties had little to no water pressure and some areas of our residential properties also suffered the same thing. That was pretty quickly repaired. They had repaired that line within 12 hours. Um, and then the normal poor condition, if you will, the pre the the intermittent pressure issue persisted after they fixed that. So, we were able to determine from that that the the water line that broke or potentially any leak emanating from that segment of the water line potentially causing these pressure issues was not the problem. So, we met a county oper county wershed operations team um on site here uh that last Tuesday morning um to come up with a game plan to try and figure out what the heck is the the problem that's causing our pressure. Uh so, um we did a I say we, but the county performed, um a check of each of the valves at the tie-in locations where they just installed the new water line on 278 to see if any one of those valves was potentially inadvertently shut or reduced, therefore causing pressure issues. Well, we determined that that was not the case. Uh so, the the prevailing theory right now and the county is still working to figure this out to their credit I want to give

them credit they are on it and they are working to try and figure it out is that there is a leak somewhere outside of the city's bounds that is affecting pressure because it's affecting the way our tank that feeds our water you know our water line is dispersing water um and and the reason why Aendelle and Decar are experiencing pressure you know pressure changes is due to our elevation in relation to the tank. So we are at a higher elevation in relation to the tank as other customers who are being supplied by the tank and therefore we feel it most. Uh but the issue remains where's the leak in the system that's causing this in the first place and they don't have an answer to that yet but they are working you know very very diligently to try and figure that out. Um the reason why we sent out updates the way we did is because a um you know there are legal liabilities for us but we can't speak on behalf of the utility um because it's their infrastructure. You know we don't want to anything that um is incorrect or presents liability for them. And then two, uh in order for the county to have the best information possible to best be able to determine the source of the problem, uh the more reports of the issue they get from specific address locations, the better information they'll have to be able to solve the problem. So that's why we were encouraging anybody who is experiencing these pressure issues um um to not only contact the county about it but to also let us know about it so that we could

maintain a separate record to give to the county if the county you know was was having any issues gathering that information themselves. So it was kind of like a redundant fail safe. Um, and that's how we have to proceed with water issues. Unfortunately, because of the size and the age of the county's water system, um, this is not going to be a quick fix. And I'm sure uh you know unfortunately you know property owners uh in our community and in you know all the communities within the gap county are going to cons continue to experience some you know um issues with outages, pressure differences and so forth because the infrastructure is so old that it breaks faster than they can replace it. Okay. Uh, name and address for Karina.

So, she has it. She Majestic South. Thank you. You're welcome, Kathy. Maybe I am too incre.

Um, thank you. There was a great discussion tonight. This is the best discussion I've heard from this group in a long time. I sent y'all an email. You know, I have been coming to these meetings for 30 years. I have seen every sort of girration of this. I don't remember after we went to the combined meetings. Have you all seen at this table? I think you tried it once and it was too much moving in too short a time and it was a lot of logistics. And getting on that point, um I just want to reiterate again, it was brought up by one of the members. Please have the sound over there so that people in the audience because I go to the DDA meetings and I go to the zoning board meetings and people sit around the table and you can be sitting

like where these gentlemen are and um you can't hear. So please make sure that that that's it. Y

I have a suggestion for the comment cards. I would say com public comments can be made at both issues. If you have questions, make them question cards. Put your questions on a part and then it's up to y'all to make sure those questions are responded to because a lot of times when we ask questions at these meetings, they are not responded to. So maybe having it in writing will be able to facilitate the answers. Um I don't find question cards. Anyway, thank you. This those are my two comments on it. I do wish that we would meet later. That is the number one complaint I hear from the residents is that they just cannot get here at huge. If you're sitting around the pool, people say, "I would love to come, but I gotta get home and feed the dog, feed the kids, and then come." Our participation was much better as far as people being in the audience when we met, though. And that's from years of experience. Just if we could, I know it's hard on staff. I get it. I've been on that side, too. But I think if you're looking for neighborhood participation, residential citizens, people you represent, that might encourage it. Try it.

Okay. Thank you.

All right. Online. Any questions online? Okay, Bill. Bill Hoverver, 89 Berkeley Road. Uh sorry I didn't come up earlier. Uh but uh one thing that came to my mind um and maybe it would be of benefit to both um you at um behind the wall and the audience uh would be to uh at the beginning of every meeting actually lay out the rules for public comment. Um so that um people understand uh at every meeting this is the way public comment is going to be run. Uh I do uh um uh would like to reiterate I support uh u uh your comment regarding uh the question cards um comments that uh if they're going to be a question uh they be put on cards uh in order to facilitate actually getting answers because I think that's an important uh outcome of questions being asked is getting is actually getting a response and that anything else would just be considered uh um more informal. and you might get something and you might not. Uh, but I applaud you uh looking into this and and trying to make uh the comment period uh uh more effective and efficient. Uh I've always tried to limit my comments to whatever the time period is. And so guess I say if if I'm playing by the rules, I would appreciate others playing by the rules as well. So um

great point. Uh, no. Um, to that point, um, and I meant to bring this up, would we, my suggestion would be that we have the the rules written and it's attached to every agenda. That's a lot of paper. I know. Sorry, trees. Um, but have it attached to every either printed on the back or attached to everyone. So when you pick up that agenda, it's like, "Ah, here we go." But it's written. So that's my suggestion. A, what do you think of that? I have a good idea. Yeah, let's

Okay. So then B, can we ask staff to get us a draft of that? And I know there's some legal considerations that need to be Well, we would do that after uh policy. Okay. Yeah. But that's easy to do. Not a problem. Okay. Yeah. But at some point a draft of that as well so we can look at that and deal with that. Okay, Jan,

I don't have much um Dan Paul for 89 Berkeley. I just want to say that I will miss not being able to make comments comments after an action item in the regular meeting. Um because I always felt like at that last moment I was really heard um prior to the final the ultimate decision being made. If I talk at the beginning of a meeting, it's not um interwoven with one particular item that is being discussed or considered. I know that's a conundrum um because the decorum of our public um during meetings in the last few years has been pretty bad. Um a lot of people have gone on and on. They've debated, they've, you know, they've stalled meetings and I'm pretty frustrated with that situation. So, I know that what you're doing probably needs to be done, but I will certainly miss uh not feeling I not feeling like I'm I'm actually being heard or that I've made a difference.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Does anyone hide around the corner? Henry's corner. Uh so any comments remaining or once or twice? I I say I like the question card concept. Yes, I think that's a pretty good idea. I think instead of calling it a comic card define it. Yeah. Or you could have a card with a statement and then you could you could put it could be a checkbox requesting followback or

Oh, that's good. You know, it's just like a check box here if you if you request board or staff a response. phone number or email or address or some means of getting back to that person. Yeah, I think it would also be good to have the board copied on the response so that we uh you know because obviously we didn't have the answer when we were here so it would be to our benefit too. Yep.

Well, the question cards I like it because we could just take an opportunity the mayor can just go through the ones that can get answers. Why is it 3030 and not 302? And it's done. It doesn't require a follow-up or feedback. The one that is like require some thought, that can be a an email response.

And the uh my example from Decatur, um the mayor reads a very short paragraph. It's describing what the comment period. We're now taking public comment. Each comment is three minutes for a very short um script. Sure. Okay. All right. All good. Okay. Anything? Very clear. Okay. Yeah. All right. Very good. All right. Well, that concludes everything. Thank you all for being here. We do appreciate it. Thank you for listening online. With that, do I have a motion to adjurnn? So moved. That was light. Do I have a second? Second.

That was Graham. All in favor say I. I. Thanks again, folks. All right. Lock and roll. See you. Sorry, I rambled there, but